OCHA Situation Report No. 47
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
28 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OVERVIEW & KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 2-3 May 2008, affecting some 2.4 million 
people living in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Almost 140,000 people 
were killed or remain missing. Four months into the post disaster 
response, the focus is increasingly shifting towards early recovery 
efforts in parallel with the remaining relief activities. Many agencies 
are starting programming for livelihoods and early recovery support.

- The revised Appeal, launched on 10 July, remains 41% funded, US$198 
million out of US$ 481.8 million requirements, with US$33.5 million 
uncommitted pledges, according to OCHA's Financial Tracking Services 
(FTS). Agriculture and early recovery continue to be the least funded in 
the revised Appeal whilst these activities are increasingly critical. 
Together with almost US$149 million contributions reported to FTS outside 
of the revised Appeal, the total funding to the Nargis response recorded 
in FTS is US$346 million with US$73 million uncommitted pledges.

- The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PoNJA) was released on 21 July to 
provide a comprehensive multi-sectoral assessment of the situation in 
cyclone-affected areas. PoNJA was conducted jointly by the Government of 
the Union of Myanmar (GUoM), ASEAN and the United Nations. Discussion 
continues on the technical modalities and methodologies on the proposed 
post PoNJA periodic review, the first of which is planned for November. 
The overarching objective of the periodic review is to assess progress and 
remaining gaps for informed planning for ways forward. It is planned that 
the review would cover the same geographic areas as the Village Tract 
Assessment (VTA), a component of PoNJA. A TOR for the technical 
consultative working group has been developed.

- The Tripartite Core Group (TCG), consisting of high-level 
representatives of the GUoM, ASEAN and the United Nations, was established 
since 31 May and continue to provide a forum for discussions and ways 
forward on issues affecting efficient delivery of post Nargis response. 
For recovery and reconstruction, line ministries have already developed 
their recovery plans which the GUoM has collated into one "Master Plan." 
The government plan is scheduled to be shared at the TCG meeting next 
week.

- The WFP air bridge from Bangkok completed its mission on 22 August. 
Since starting the operation on 24 May to support humanitarian logistics 
needs for the post Nargis response, 232 flights were dispatched from the 
Don Mueang hub, delivering nearly 4,000 tons of cargo to the affected 
areas. Ten chartered WFP helicopters were also staged through the Bangkok 
air bridge, arriving in Yangon in early June to fly supplies and personnel 
into the Delta. Two helicopters remain in operation incountry for another 
3 months to continue support air movements of humanitarian personnel and 
light cargo to the Delta during the rainy season. The CERF is supporting 
part of the current UNHAS operation costs with the US$1.3 million rapid 
response grant.

- In the two remaining IDP camps in Labutta ("3 mile" and "5 mile" camps), 
the return to the places of origin had stopped since MSF's cash grant 
distribution (MMK50,000) which was completed on 18 August. The Government 
reported that the remaining IDP caseload of 497 households are encouraged 
to see by themselves the conditions of the places of origin and, if they 
prefer not to return at this point, they would be given an option of 
remaining in the current camps or moving to two resettlement sites (Min 
Kone and Pein Nei Taung villages) where a total of 450 house are to be 
built. An inter-agency visit was conducted to assess the conditions of 
these resettlement sites. The situation will continue to be monitored.

- UNAIDS held a workshop on field testing of the revised "IASC guidelines 
for HIV prevention and response interventions in humanitarian settings" on 
26 August in Yangon. Almost 50 participants from UN agencies, local and 
international NGOs and the Red Cross attended to provide feedback in 
particular from the recent experience of the post Nargis response.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=7D0824EC98BA1DC5852574B30061BBB1&file=Full_Report.pdf


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